‘Missing’ Long Island Dad Arrested; Attorney Blames Medication

Raymond Roth, center, is escorted by law enforcement officers to the Long Island State Park Police Headquarters Wednesday.

Police arrested a Long Island man Wednesday for allegedly trying to fake his own drowning in the waters off Jones Beach.

Raymond Roth, 47 years old, turned himself in to New York State Park Police after being on the run since July 28, when his son reported him missing. He was later turned over to Nassau County Police.

His lawyer, Brian Davis, said at Roth’s arraignment that his client was taking a combination of psychiatric medications that caused him to act irrationally.

“What he was on certainly was not helping him,” said Davis. “It was deleterious to his mental well being.”

Davis said Roth had been misdiagnosed with depression and taking medication for the illness before his disappearance, but he has since been correctly diagnosed as bipolar.

Roth pleaded not guilty to charges of insurance fraud, falsely reporting an incident and conspiracy at Nassau County Supreme Court. He faces 15 years in prison.

Roth’s son, who called authorities about the disappearance, was arrested and charged with similar crimes last week.

Prosecutors said Mr. Roth, whose bail was set at $100,000, was trying to obtain $410,000 in life insurance benefits. But Davis denied this, saying Roth was simply looking to escape his life.

After his disappearance, Roth was pulled over by South Carolina police. Prosecutors said he was attempting to flee to a timeshare in Orlando Florida. He also contacted his wife, who is now filing for divorce.

At a press conference Wednesday, Nassau County Dist. Atty. Kathleen Rice estimated at the search and rescue effort cost tens of thousands of dollars.